Jan. 10, 2013
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Don Cheadle as Marty Kaan in House of Lies. / Courtesy of SHOWTIME

Written by

Gayle Jo Carter

Cheadle and Bell talk 'Lies' in LA: At the Los Angeles premiere of their new TV show 'House of Lies,' Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell talk about the big business dramedy, which takes a scathing look at the corporate world. (Jan. 5)

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Known for roles in movie franchises ó Iron Man 2 and 3 and Oceanís Eleven and Twelve ó and quieter Oscar-noticed films such as Hotel Rwanda and Crash, Don Cheadle, 48, now stars in his own TV series. House of Lies returns Sunday at 10 ET/PT on Showtime.

You play a liar. In real life, are you a good liar? Iím a terrible liar. ... I want the straight skinny all the time. So I try to give it.

You usually travel for work. Howís life on a TV set? Itís nice to be at home and sleep in my own bed at night. Iím 20 minutes away from the studio [in Los Angeles] ... Itís a consistency I cherish.

Does your family like it when youíre home? It depends upon the day. I have two teenagers, so you know ...

Is parenting teenagers more difficult than when they were younger? The bigger challenge is that they are rapidly approaching the age, next year my daughter [Ayana, 18] is going to be going to college and a couple years behind her, her sister [Imani, 16]. Itís more that youíre on the launch pad to trying to make sure that they can do what they need to do once theyíre out of there.

Whatís the most important thing you want to teach your teens? That their life is in their hands. ... I try to make sure my daughters are cognizant about the choices they make and what the potential upside or downside could be to those choices.

You and Bridgid Coulter have been together 20 years. Whatís the secret? Not moving apart. Itís funny: I asked my mom one time why she and my dad were still together. She said, ĎBecause we both didnít want to be divorced at the same time.í Itís timing sometimes.

Do you watch any TV as a family? We love to watch Modern Family together.

Are you a big reader? I took about 40 flights this summer flying back and forth [filming Iron Man 3] and I was reading a lot of books on the plane: Alexander Mackendrickís book on directing [On Film-making: An Introduction to the Craft of the Director];Imagine [Jonah Lehrer]. I was very disappointed when he came out and said half of the facts in it werenít real, that whole thing was disappointing. On the plane is where I get in my reading.

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Speaking of Iron Man 3, how is it? We never know until it comes out and everybody has their chance to touch it and push and pull on it. I feel like it has an opportunity.

If you could have a superhero power, which would you want? I do have one but I canít really share it.

Did you make any New Yearís Resolutions this year? No, I almost never make them. Whatís the point? Youíre going to do what youíre going to do and hopefully it will be the right thing.

The Super Bowl is soon; do you root for a team? The [Denver] Broncos just kill me. Iím a Kansas City Chiefs fan [he was born there], which is even more painful than the Broncos.

You played a number of instruments growing up. Do you still? Iíve been mostly playing trumpet. Iím not good.

You hope to make a Miles Davis movie? Thatís why Iím playing the trumpet. [Financing] is the eternal struggle. ... I think weíve just potentially found an irrational investor.

Any other parts or projects youíd like to be part of or make happen? I really want to be some part ó produce, write, direct, be in ó of a modern horror story. Not horror like slasher/gore, [but something] really scary because I havenít been scared in a movie in a long time. Paranormal Activity isnít what Iím talking about. Something thatís really Exorcist scary. I want to do a Kung Fu movie too, a fighting movie. Thereís a lot of martial arts movies that I like but I love what Kung Fu Hustle did for both the genre and the lure of it all.

Do you have a favorite movie? Iím kind of all over the map. Iíd be hard pressed to come up with one. I think Catch-22 is pretty good although thatís a very sort of arcane reference; Whoís Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, Sounder.

Was there one movie that you saw that made you want to be an actor? No, itís probably more about being a latch-key kid and watching a bunch of bad TV.

Is there a secret to the career longevity youíve had? If there is I donít know what it is. It helps to be lucky.